Chisago City-based Natural Systems Utilities, MN (NSU) received 22 wastewater facility operation awards, including one for the Heritage at Lutsen development, from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) at the annual Wastewater Operations Conference. NSU is again the recipient of more awards than any other decentralized wastewater management company in the state. The awards are based on a facility demonstrating […]
Clean energy projects funding available
Do you and your community need funding to get an energy efficiency or renewable energy project off the ground? The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) can help. CERTs seek to provide seed grants to support the labor costs for clean energy projects that spur community development in Minnesota. Project proposals should be for a community-based energy efficiency or renewable energy […]
Comments wanted on Lake Superior – Poplar River Water District Project
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comments on an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) prepared for a project to create a public rural water district and the construction of a water pipeline and water appropriation from Lake Superior to provide potable and raw water to residential, commercial, and government customers within the district. One of the primary […]
Court gives okay for AT&T cell tower near BWCAW in Ely
Reversing the August 2011 decision of the lower court, on June 18, 2012, the Minnesota Court of Appeals issued a decision that will allow AT&T to build a 450-foot cell phone tower about 1.5 miles from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness initiated the lawsuit in 2010 to block the tower, arguing […]
No appeal on Forest Service Travel Management Plan
Although U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson ruled in favor of the U.S. Forest Service on April 12, 2012, giving the agency the go-ahead to proceed with its travel management plan, the Forest Service held off on implementation of the plan. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit had 60 days in which to file an appeal. Superior National Forest Deputy Forest […]
Down Memory Lane
10 Years AgoJune 21, 2002 Bill Hansen surprised some people on June 15 when he came away with the DFL endorsement for the 6A House seat at the party’s Senate District endorsing convention held in Two Harbors. Hansen and three other DFL candidates will now square off against Tom Porter, a Republican, for the seat being vacated by Tom Bakk […]
GO Team to create countywide economic development plan
“Creating sustainable prosperity for all” is the motto of a new countywide partnership of public, private and nonprofit entities known as the “GO [Generating Opportunities] Team.” On June 19, 2012, Cook County Higher Education Business Training Coordinator Jim Boyd and Northspan Group President and CEO Randy Lasky asked the Cook County Board of Commissioners for $6,000 to support the GO […]
Taylor Lane residents fight for county road maintenance
Numerous residents along the first 1,100 feet of Taylor Lane, which veers north off of County Road 58 east of Grand Marais, appealed to the county board on June 19 to consider their arguments in favor of continued county maintenance of their road. County Engineer David Betts brought the issue to the board after several months of discussion with the […]
Committee asks county to reserve 1 percent tax revenue for biomass
With $940,000 of the county’s $20,000,000 1 percent recreation and infrastructure sales tax revenue still uncommitted, the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) Biomass Committee went before the county board on June 19 to request that it be reserved for potential biomass projects. The language of the legislation authorizing the tax left room for any number of projects but also […]